atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Yet another phone scam

Aside from not answering calls from unknown numbers, if the question is asked, just say "no".

Obviously you heard the caller well enough to provide an answer....just not the one they were looking for.

I get "are you in charge of paying the electric bill?" all the time. I always reply "we don't have electric".

For quite awhile now I don't even bother to answer the phone and let the AA and voice mail handle it. If the call is legitimate they will leave a message.

For my cell, if you aren't in my contacts the ringtone is quack like a duck so I know what to ignore.

-Hal

Even though it's difficult, I try to remember that the people who are actually employed to make these calls are just trying to make a living. They aren't the ones who should be the target of our anger and derision. I just say, "There's no one in the office right now who can help you." Then they say, "Oh sorry, I didn't realize this was a business. I'll take your number off the list."

Another scam that has been around for a while is some group in (India?) posing as Microsoft Support, calls to inform you that your computer (desktop, laptop, 2-in-1 or tablet) is causing network problems and they would like to fix it for you (for a price of course).

I actually had one such call at the same time that I was on the phone with the real Microsoft Support. Because I was using the Partner ACS system phone in my bedroom, I didn't know who the second caller was, so, I flash hooked the first call to speak to the new caller.

The caller hung up pretty quickly when I told them that I was on the phone with Microsoft.

Others have come up with other retorts to this particular caller. Asking: "Which one of my computers are you talking about?" or saying "I have only 'Apple' or 'Samsung' devices" will bring a rapid end to the call.

I always say:

"Are you of the Hindu faith? Aren't you afraid of being reborn a cockroach for all this lying and stealing you're doing?"

They always seem to hang up at that point.


Sam

There are some great youtube videos of people who set up "virtual machines" (essentially a computer within a computer for the non techy out there). These guys making these videos range from the professional CG's to 15 year old kids. When it's late and I can't sleep I find myself watching these videos of people getting some payback on these scammers. When the Indian "tech support" guy figures out he's being baited he often gets really nasty, swearing and threatening the person. The guys who make these videos are very clever. By using a virtual machine, the scammer can do no real damage to their computer, and they usually remove the basic system commands like syskey that the scammers use to lock up their victim's machines.

The Microsoft guys are a constant source of amusement, you can keep them hanging on forever. My latest last week was 3 calls from Publishers clearing House, same guy all 3 times.They wanted to know what bank I used, I said East Bank of the Mississippi, never phased them. All I had to do to claim prize was to send a moneygram for 1% of my winnings.

I had one of those calls yesterday morning...Subcontinental accent and all. I didn't let him read much of his spiel. My computers are just fine. Click.

I respectfully disagree. The people making these calls are part of the scam and are as guilty as those that hired them. They know full well what they are doing.

Like Cool Hand Luke said 'Calling it your job boss still don't make it right'